Vox Populi, our live chat about the week’s events begins tonight at 7:00pm PST. Hope to see you then!

AdLib7 days ago

Hey Ad, how are you?

glenn

7 days ago

Hey there!

AdLib7 days ago

How are you tonight, glenn?

AdLib7 days ago

Doing well, Ad. So, who “won” the debate last night?

glenn

7 days ago

The Pharma companies who sell anti-psychotic meds.

AdLib7 days ago

LOL! But, apparently not a one of those people on stage are buying the meds!

glenn

7 days ago

Technically though, I suppose Trump won and Cruz won because the appearance of him and Trump battling made it look like they are the main two candidates.

AdLib7 days ago

I may have to buy anti-depressants to get through the next few months. Both of those two scare the hell out of me!

glenn

7 days ago

As well they should but trust me, neither can win a GE.

AdLib7 days ago

And, if Rubio is the “third”, he’s no better.

glenn

7 days ago

Hey Murph!

AdLib7 days ago

Hey Murph, how are you?

glenn

7 days ago

Hello there……the site was hard to load….sputtering is what I would call it as it tried to connect…..but then it clicked!

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Glenn…hi there…..

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

glenn – Rubio is just a walking tape recorder, he’s made of plastic.

AdLib7 days ago

Ad–I’m pretty sure you’re right. But as someone pointed out the other day on a blog, no one thought regan could win an election, either.

glenn

7 days ago

Murph – Will investigate that.

AdLib7 days ago

Ad–great description of Rubio!

glenn

7 days ago

Reagan won when there were enough white votes to not need minority votes so racism could work then. Not today.

AdLib7 days ago

watching Al Gore on Maher….he looks good and is putting forth the importance of the 190 Nation Paris Climate Accord.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Ad–good point!

glenn

7 days ago

Murph–Sounds like a good show.

glenn

7 days ago

Murph – Good to have Gore back fighting for the accord and more climate change efforts.

AdLib7 days ago

Mayer has Cornel West on….I destest him…..his personal hatred for Obama because Obama would not kiss his butt…..and invite him into his inner circle….turns my stomach.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

There is no way Trump or Cruz can win without getting a sizable percentage of minority votes (47%) and both are running on a racist, white supremecy base.

AdLib7 days ago

Trump vs. Sanders….now there is a fight I want to see.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Murph–I’m a little confused. Who is Mayer?

glenn

7 days ago

And Tavis Smiley, West’s fellow Obama basher (because he also wasn’t invited to the inauguration) is making the tour of news and talk shows spewing hatred of Obama. Do they really think any Dem cares what they think?

AdLib7 days ago

Sanders is very witty as well as gruff, he would have no trouble slapping Trump back.

AdLib7 days ago

Bill Maher.

AdLib7 days ago

I detest Cornell West also.

glenn

7 days ago

Ad–okay, thanks. So, he has Gore, West, and Smiley all on the same show? Interesing mix.

glenn

7 days ago

I’m glad West and Smiley were snubbed by Obama, they’ve proved that they are just egocentric brats.

AdLib7 days ago

Ad–don’t know about Smiley, but as far as I’m concerned, West is a criminal and should have been court martialed.

glenn

7 days ago

Smiley’s not on Maher, he’s been on MSNBC and other talk shows touring his regurgitation of a book he wrote 10 years ago. He like West need to be THE spokesmen for all black people.

AdLib7 days ago

glenn – What specifically should West have been court martialed for?

AdLib7 days ago

Ad–you know, I think it’s so unfair that black people are treated as one entity. They are just as diverse as white people; and no one expects one white person to speak for all whites, so I don’t know why we should expect it for all blacks.

glenn

7 days ago

Sounds like many Repubs are resigning themselves to Trump possibly being their candidate!

AdLib7 days ago

Ad–For holding a gun to a prisoner’s head and threatening to shoot him. I think he also shot the gun off, but not at the prisoner.

glenn

7 days ago

Glenn – But jerks like West and Smiley are just opportunists who see an industry over being THE face of the entire black population.

AdLib7 days ago

I didn’t know about that story! Yet today, he blathers with a moral superiority over whoever he talks to.

AdLib7 days ago

Remember Jesse Jacksoin insulting Obama in 2008 for the same reason? “Representing all black people is my meal ticket!”

AdLib7 days ago

Off topic but what a piece of work Hillary is, destroying the Dem primary by controlling the debate process, burying them on weekends around holidays and football playoffs.

AdLib7 days ago

Ad–oh yes, it was all over the news in FL when he ran for office there. As an officer, he was way out of bounds! And from what I have read, he was asked to resign before he was court martialed. So, yeah, he’s just another republican hypocrite!

glenn

7 days ago

And slicing the number of debates down to 6? And no debate after Sunday before Iowa or New Hampshire!

AdLib7 days ago

I think it’s reflective of his disdain for others and his self-righteousness.

AdLib7 days ago

Ad–is it Hillary controlling the debates, or Schulz?

glenn

7 days ago

Oh wait! You mean Allen West! We’re talking about Cornell West!

AdLib7 days ago

Ad–yup. He’s one of those people that a little bit of power goes straight to his head.

glenn

7 days ago

Hillary dictated to Schultz the whole thing, Schultz was the head of her campaign in 2008.

AdLib7 days ago

Ad–oops, my bad! You’re right!

glenn

7 days ago

Color my face red!

glenn

7 days ago

No worries! Glad Allen West is history now!

AdLib7 days ago

Grrrrr…phone call…watching your debate here…

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Right Murph!

AdLib7 days ago

Ad–me too, and I don’t even live in FL any more!

glenn

7 days ago

My attendance at the Bernie Meeting has led to calls to become an organizer….curse you AD LIB! Hah!

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

I am getting back to really disliking Hillary. Her lies about Bernie’s support of single payer destroying all health care is just plain dishonest and malicious.

AdLib7 days ago

Murph–but you’re such a good organizer, and such a good persuader!

glenn

7 days ago

Heh! Murph, I’ll bet you’re surrounded by many who were part of the Obama grass roots as well.

AdLib7 days ago

Ad….Hillary and daughter Chelsea coupled with Bill looking like he needs an oxygen bottle…not a real energizer for me.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Ad–I agree. I was beginning to believe that she was going to run a much campaign this time, but between the debate schedule, and having her daughter tell lies about Bernie is getting to be too much! Glad to see Rachel take her down a notch last night with her questions.

glenn

7 days ago

The Bernie crowd is interesting……he really is attracking Trump-like angry people too.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

oops…”a much better campaign”

glenn

7 days ago

And look how quickly Hillary folded in attacking Trump once he started in on attacking Bill for his womanizing. What do you think Trump would do if he was in a GE with Hillary? He’s got her number, we need Bernie instead.

AdLib7 days ago

Ad…I am definitely moving in your direction…Hillary’s coolness is not working for me.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

glenn – Hillary can’t help herself. She went through a lot of hell in her life and it has shaped her into a very mercenary person. I never see the real person that she is, just a manipulative, scheming person.

AdLib7 days ago

Glenn and Ad…Bill Maher is HOT tonight! The vacation did him good!

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Ad–I just think Hillary has too much baggage to win in a GE. She generates almost as visceral hate as President Obama does. On the bright side, Bill O’Reilly says he’ll “flee to Ireland” if Bernie is elected. One more reason to vote for Bernie!

glenn

7 days ago

Murph – That makes sense that some Bernie supporters would be angry but he’s also a natural candidate for Obama supporters. I heard many were flocking to him.

AdLib7 days ago

Ad–at the beginning of the campaign, when she was scheming with all of her plans, I gave her a “pass” because I agreed with her plans. Now, I’m not sure that Bernie’s plan for single payer will ever get past the American people, or at least the right wingers, but he’s not attacking the person, Hillary, just her policies. That’s the biggest difference I see at this point.

glenn

7 days ago

Murph – Again, I will vote for her if she is the Dem’s nominee but I will never like her as a person. And it’s too bad because I really like Obama and would like to feel that way about the next President.

AdLib7 days ago

One of my great concerns about Bernie was would he be able to deliver….I used the same standard for judging Obama….and his big delivery was his campaign and his well defined policy…that is Bernie right now.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Secondly, knowing how bad Hillary is at getting people to like her and being dishonest and manipulative, I don’t know that she’d win a second term.

AdLib7 days ago

Bernie would need a woman VP doncha think? Glenn, Ad, any ideas?

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Murph–The thing I like most about Bernie is that he definitely has well defined policy; he’s been working for/on the same policy his whole political career.

glenn

7 days ago

Murph–not sure Hillary would accept VP. If I were her, I wouldn’t, but then again,WTH do I know?

glenn

7 days ago

glenn – It is very unflattering that Hillary is attacking single payer oonly because it’s propaganda to tie to Bernie that he wants to take away everyone’s health care…the same claims and tactics that the Kochs and the GOP used to attack the passage oof the ACA.

AdLib7 days ago

Glenn…exactly….his campaign web site is brilliant AND anyone running his campaign off of small donations- really doing it- has my profound respect.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Glenn…for sure not Hillary.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Ad–If Hillary is the nominee, we’d better get out the vote BIG time, because even a lot of independents seem to be leaning toward trump. Once again, because Hillary has so much baggage. And, while most of her baggage is the same old shit repeated over and over again; it won’t help her in a GE.

glenn

7 days ago

Murph – I’ve been hesitent about an absolute commitment to Bernie for similar reasons. Can he navigate foreign affairs well, deal with heavy negative attacks and is he pragmatic enough to actually get things done through compromise? And he is in his 70’s. This primary has been important and valuable in his growing as a candidate and he is looking stronger and tougher.

AdLib7 days ago

I think that to take on Trump, a personality in same vein as Trump will be needed….and that is Bernie. He is idiosyncratic. He is testy. He is passionate. He knows how to rumble AND he has nothing under his bed that can be used to derail him.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Murph–In a way, I’d love to see Warren become Bernie’s VP, but I also think she is doing the most good where is right now. Another candidate, IMO, would be Tammy Duckworth.

glenn

7 days ago

Murph – Well, the dream team would be Bernie and Elizabeth Warren in that sense. But he doesn’t need a woman, he could go with a Julian Castro and score big on the Latino vote.

AdLib7 days ago

Glenn….every time I see Tammy I get a lump in my throat. What a wonderful person. Did you see how she brought the room to its feet in SOTU AFTER she STOOD to applaud our military.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Murph–didn’t watch the SOTU, but Tammy is a class act, so it doesn’t surprise me.

glenn

7 days ago

Ad…I suppose and I am reading that the “woman mandate” is not what many thought it was……so perhaps a key.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

glenn – Agreed, I do think it would be a closer race if it is Hillary against Trump instead of Bernie. But what if Cruz pulls out IA then Southern states and becomes the nominee? I think he would be easier for Hillary to beat.

AdLib7 days ago

That’s a good point, Murph. Bernie can hold his own and then some against a blowhard like Trump. One can only wonder if Hillary might do a lot of damage to her campaign emulating the lying and viciousness of a Trump campaign.

AdLib7 days ago

Ad–I agree; cruz would be easier to beat in a GE. He’s so far to the right that he’s just not electable. And, I don’t think independents see him as a serious candidate.

glenn

7 days ago

Ad….Cruz is really in trouble….his NY attack last night was hamfisted and made him appear to be what he is…a divider…AND I think the “Canadian” thing is sticking….an Obama echo with more merit.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Murph–Love it that cruz is having trouble living with the birther crowd, led by trump. Karma is a bitch, ain’t it?

glenn

7 days ago

glenn – Tammy Duckworth would be a very remarkable pick indeed. Tactically speaking though, I think a Latino as VP would be more advantageous than a woman because a woman VP has been done (Ferraro and Palin) but a Latino has never been a VP nom…and assuring that Trump won’t get much of the Latino vote would assure a win for Bernie.

AdLib7 days ago

Hillary in taking on Trump would walk a line…..if she were “tough” she could (and would) be labeled as a bitch….if she is conciliatory she will be labeled weak…if she is policy focused she will be labeled a progressive wonk….

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Ad….you are winning me over.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Ad……before I forget…..did you send out a reminder re. Vox tonight….if so, I did not see it…and the one from the GOP debate showed up very, very late….just checking…you are a busy person.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Murph – Agreed about Cruz taking some hits last night but the evangelicals don’t care, their support is faith based and not much can shake it. I hope Cruz can win IA (where evangelicals are the majority) then Trump wins NH and they fight back and forth all spring and summer!

AdLib7 days ago

Ad–I think either one would be a good pick for Bernie. The Latino vote is important, and trump has all but thrown their vote away, IMO. But the Dems taking them for granted isn’t good either; so a Latino VP would be great. How about a Latina VP? Any ideas?

glenn

7 days ago

Ad….I hope for the Trump/Cruz scenario you lay out.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Murph – I think if it was a different woman, say, Elizabeth Warren, she could tear into Trump and not be seen in a chauvinist way as a “bitch” or a “victim” but Hillary is so unlikeable, she would seem to have a hard time escaping such labels.

AdLib7 days ago

Murph/Ad–the trump/cruz scenario would certainly be entertaining!

glenn

7 days ago

Ad….agreed….my labels comment was geared to Hillary…..Warren would be very different.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Murph – Another historic ticket for the Dems, the first Jewish President and first Latino VP!

AdLib7 days ago

Ad–agreed about Warren. Of course, she would still be called a bitch, but she wouldn’t have as much baggage as Hillary.

glenn

7 days ago

Ad…exciting.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Murph – No, didn’t send out the noitification today, I don’t do it every Friday but perhaps I should.

AdLib7 days ago

glenn – That’s a tough one, I can’t think of a Latina Dem that has the cred to be a VP nom. Can you?

AdLib7 days ago

Ad….Vox is a highlight of my week and I put it into my e-calendar on my phone….but others – ????? I miss some ofour regulars.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Ad…no Latina woman comes to mind with a national profile.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Maher is killing it tonight!

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

glenn – But Warren is so smart, honest and genuine, I don’t think her toughness would come across in a way that would make people think of her badly. She’s always been tough and never comes off that way IMO.

AdLib7 days ago

Ad–no, but I asked you first! I thought between you and Murph, you could come up with someone. I would like to see one of the Castro brothers, though. I’ve heard good things about them.

glenn

7 days ago

I have met Warren…..she is really intense and prophetic….impressive…

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Murph – Cool to hear that, thanks! Always helps when I send out the notifications, will do so regularly.

AdLib7 days ago

Ad–I know, but as a woman, I know that no matter how genuine you are, you will always be called a bitch. In Warren’s case, though, I think she could handle it with much more grace under pressure than Hillary.

glenn

7 days ago

Jennifer Lopez?

AdLib7 days ago

Ad–that was sarcasm, right?

glenn

7 days ago

Glenn….VERY well said….very well indeed!

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

I saw Warren speak at a Netroots event years ago and can’t tell you how impressed I was, a fan for life after that.

AdLib7 days ago

Glenn…did you not know that Ad has a special place for JL in his heart?

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Murph–thanks.

glenn

7 days ago

I saw her in Il at an activist meeting and I was most impressed when she too on the lefty loons who were threatening to take over the meeting…

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Murph–I think JL is great, too. I think she actually is a genuine person as well as a great entertainer. But I’d like to see someone with experience in the VP slot, especially given Bernie’s age. Just being honest.

glenn

7 days ago

glenn – Yep, just joking! Dems haven’t been great about elevating Latinas. There’s Loretta Sanchez but she’s kind of a RW Dem.

AdLib7 days ago

Side note…I got a call yesterday from someone who I worked the Obama 2008 campaign…a very talented young woman who decided not to go to law school so she could work for Barack…..we were very close. She just wanted to share with someone from that time how sad she felt to see Obama deliver his final SOTU but also how proud she was of him and of us for supporting him. I told her that Barack is not done…not by a long shot.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Side note…I got a call yesterday from someone who I worked the Obama 2008 campaign…a very talented young woman who decided not to go to law school so she could work for Barack…..we were very close. She just wanted to share with someone from that time how sad she felt to see Obama deliver his final SOTU but also how proud she was of him and of us for supporting him. I told her that Barack is not done…not by a long shot.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Women aren’t going to vote for Trump, they will go for Hillary or Bernie. Latinos too and for Bernie, indies that might otherwise have voted for Trump (against Hillary).

AdLib7 days ago

Murph – It is kind of strange to consider that the next SOTU will be presented by a totally different person, Bernie or Hillary. Hope the woman you mention knows what a difference her and your support of Obama made to the country.

AdLib7 days ago

Ad….there are women who will vote trump….but I agree that support is limited to the most TP oriented.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Maher is really campaigning to get Obama on his Real Time Show…..I wonder if he would….

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

I do think Trump might pick someone like Susana Martinez, Gov of NM as his VP to diffuse the woman and Latino issue. But it won’t work, he’ll still be Trump and he would be the President.

AdLib7 days ago

Right Murph, I meant a majority of women, Dems and indies. Of course plenty of Repub women would vote for Trump.

AdLib7 days ago

Martinez is very interesting…..I don’t she will play ball just as the Gov. of SC refused to.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Hey, Maher donated a million to Obama, he owes him!

AdLib7 days ago

Where did Glenn go…

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Don’t know where glenn went!

AdLib7 days ago

I hope we did not offend.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Maybe you’re right, Martinez would be well advised to not tie herself to Trump.

AdLib7 days ago

I do predict that if Trump is the GOP nom, it will be a Dem sweep like when Goldwater lost.

AdLib7 days ago

Ah, glenn, you’re back!

AdLib7 days ago

Glenn! There you are….I was afraid that our banter had somehow offended you…..would never do that for the world.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Hey guys, I’m back. My computer kept on disconnecting me. No, you didn’t offend me. And, if you had offended me, I would let you know.

glenn

7 days ago

I think Bernie could very well win IA and NH! If that happens, watch Hillary go hyper negative and maybe, pull another crying press conference.

AdLib7 days ago

Ad….one of my GOP insider friends says their think tanks believe that a Trump nomination will lose the Senate and the House Majority will shrink- with the TP (aka Freedom Caucus) becoming a larger proportion of the whole….bad news….The will stay strong locally in governor’s offices and state legisltures.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Glenn…I got tossed off too…not my computer because I was already signed in on another screen……

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Ad–One would think that in all her years of taking shit, Hillary would have learned to be more gracious under pressure, but it seems she never learns her lesson(s). She could take some lessons from Warren for grace under pressure. Or even from Michelle Obama, who is another woman I greatly admire. Hey! There’s a VP pick for Bernie! Let’s keep it all in the family!

glenn

7 days ago

Ad…one more thing about getting to Vox. The last few times I have had to sign in and then go to the drop down menu in the banner head for Vox and click there to get the Vox box on the lower right to appear.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Murph – I think they’re part right, Trump will give the WH and Senate back to Dems I think and in states, those that are red will stay strongly red but purple will go Dem.

glenn – I think Hillary is damaged psychologically from going through some very horrible things. She has been through hell, when people go through that, they either come out stronger and smarter or scarred and troubled. She’s troubled, she lies and has walled off her human side.

AdLib7 days ago

Ad–I wish Dems had a better DNC chair than Schulz, because Dems could be kicking ass in governors’ races, IMO. Just highlight the repubs’ “leadership” like Snyder in MI with his “emergency managers” poisoning the people. Dems aren’t great at taking the offensive and shaping the narrative. I realize we don’t have a “left-leaning” media, but all I hear is right wing opinions.

glenn

7 days ago

Murph – Thanks for the details. After tonight, I’ll try to recreate those issues to find what’s causing them.

AdLib7 days ago

Ad….pretty strong…..I have not studied her enough to make that big an assesment.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Murph–what better way to “cure” “empty nest syndrome” than by being VP? I really am just joking, but I think she would be a formidable opponent!

glenn

7 days ago

Glenn…with you on that…I am in a state where the very red masters of our state legislature give the Dems one in road after another for an all out exposure of their real motivations…and they duck, weave and bob…infuriating.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Glenn…if her name was Obama…..absolutely.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Schultz has been a disaster as DNC Chairman, we’ve lost more seats and she’s successfully created division within the Dems. Horrible job, she needs to go.

AdLib7 days ago

Alright guys, I’m going to have to leave now; my computer is trying to kick me off again, so I’ll say good night now. Always enjoy chatting with you two; have a good weekend!

glenn

7 days ago

Why has Debbie Wasserman Schulz held on to her job…don’t get it. She is a bad interview…a real match for Priebus…

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Glenn…..this was really great fun…..so glad we had this time together.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Murph – She’s so hardened and opaque, keeps her true humanity walled off, all the clues of someone so burned and corrupted by terrible things that indeed happened to her.

His son works as a social security disability insurance senior analyst at Boston-based Cambridge & Somerville Legal Services, handling insurance claims in disability cases for both children and adults.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Levi has worked his Dad’s campaigns

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Well on this great note….I need to move on toward the end of my day……this has been delightful.

MurphTheSurf3

7 days ago

Very cool! Same here Murph! We’ll be here on Sunday for the Dem debate.

AdLib7 days ago

Great….get the word out…..Vox is the place I want to be for moments like those.